» Michigan set a program record with its NCAA-leading team score of 425.500.
» The Wolverines won four of six team events and five of seven individual events, sweeping the medal stand on high bar.
» Seven student-athletes set new career-high scores, led by two personal records set by Fred Richard as he claimed event titles on floor exercise, high bar, and the all-around.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Scores: #5 Michigan 425.500, #6 Penn St. 413.600
Records: U-M (12-2, 2-2 B1G), Penn St. (3-2, 1-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., April 5-6 -- Big Ten Championships (Champaign, Ill.), 7 p.m. CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team toppled the No. 6-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions 425.500-413.600 on Sunday (March 17) inside Cliff Keen Arena. The team total set a new program record and is the leading score in the NCAA this season.
U-M (12-2, 2-2 Big Ten) maintained a comfortable lead over Penn State (3-2, 1-2 Big Ten) throughout the meet, winning four of six team and five of seven individual events. Michigan also swept the top three places on high bar and claimed two podium finishes on floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings and parallel bars. Sophom*ore Fred Richard finished the day with event titles on floor, high bar and the all-around, winning the meet's Newt Loken Award.
Four seniors and three graduate students were honored for their contributions to the program during their time at U-M. On senior night, senior Steven Lukasik set a personal best on high bar, with a score of 14.10. Senior Evgeny Siminiuc followed Lukasik with his own career high of 14.60 on the apparatus, while graduate student Crew Bold tied his own personal record of 14.70. Paul Juda won the Kurt Golder Award, given annually to a senior or graduate student who has demonstrated exemplary performance and leadership both inside and outside of the gym.
How it Happened
Floor Exercise
Michigan began the meet with a season-high team score of 70.950, led by Richard, who earned a 14.60 to take first place. Fellow sophom*ore Landen Blixt tied his personal best score of 14.450 on the apparatus to take third place. U-M led Penn State by 2.350 points after the first rotation.
Pommel Horse
The Wolverines compiled their second season-leading team score of the day with a total of 69.950. Richard again led the Maize and Blue, taking second place with a 14.65. He was followed by sophom*ore Zach Granados, who smashed his previous career high (13.90) and finished in third with a 14.60. Freshman Kevin Chow finished with a 14.10 to top his previous personal best and end in fourth. Michigan led the Nittany Lions by 4.550 points heading into the third rotation.
Still Rings
Richard was once again at the forefront of the Wolverines' efforts, taking second place with a score of 14.65. Senior Rithik Puri followed in third with a 14.30, while his brother, freshman Akshay Puri, finished just outside the podium with a personal-best score of 14.20 on the apparatus. U-M tallied a 70.550 on still rings to land its third season-high team score of the day, leading Penn State by 6.250 points as they entered the fourth rotation.
Vault
Blixt was the sole Wolverine to finish on the vault podium, landing in first place with a score of 14.70. Junior David Wolma also had a strong showing, ending just outside the top three with a 14.55. Michigan totaled 71.450 on the apparatus, maintaining a strong 5.600-point lead over the Nittany Lions going into the penultimate rotation.
Parallel Bars
Michigan extended its lead with a team total of 71.500, claiming four of the top-five finishes. Siminiuc led the pack with a 14.60, while McKeown finished in third with a 14.30. Bold and Blixt tied for fourth with a 14.25, which was a career-best for Blixt. U-M led Penn State by 8.550 points as they entered the final rotation.
High Bar
The Wolverines' dominance continued as they swept the four top spots to take home a season-high total of 71.100 on the apparatus. Richard (14.45) secured the event title with an NCAA-leading personal best score of 15.30. Bold took second with a 14.70, while Siminiuc (14.60) and Lukasik (14.60) locked out third and fourth with their own respective career bests.
Up Next
U-M maintains a chance of securing another Big Ten regular-season championship with a 2-2 record and two Big Ten competition weekends remaining. The Wolverines will next go on a two-week break prior to defending its Big Ten Championship on Friday and Saturday, April 5-6 in Champaign, Ill.
